A Filipino film project garnered spotlight at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival this year. Directed by Keith Sicat and pitched at MIFA market’s Southeast Asia Pitch, the futuristic film Ewa explores the lives of intergalactic migrant workers and centers on a scientist, abandoned on a hostile alien planet, struggling to reconnect with her child lightyears away.
The Philippines animation industry, traditionally known for its robust service sector, is now expanding its pool of original IPs. In an exclusive interaction at Annecy 2024, AnimationXpress spoke to Joierie Ann Pacumio, the executive director of Film Philippines Office from Film Development Council of the Philippines (FDCP), and Miguel Del Rosario, the CEO of Toon City Animation and chairman of Animation Council of the Philippines, about the country’s animation industry, the benefits of producing films in the Philippines and their experience at the film festival.
Providing insight into the country’s animation ecosystem, del Rosario said, “We understand the culture of the Western world, which allows us to develop IPs that reflect our cultural heritage while being relatable to the Western audiences. As a result, some of our mythology content is gaining international traction.”
FDCP’s Pacumio added, “Animation is a growing industry in the Philippines. We are currently witnessing an influx of inquiries for collaborations and a growing interest in partnerships from Southeast Asia, North America, and Europe. We are happy to bring in projects that will fuel the economy and provide jobs.” FDCP spearheads participation of the Philippine film industry in international film festivals and markets like Annecy. The agency plans to attend the American Film Market in November 2024. “At Annecy, we were thrilled to see exchange of ideas and best technology practices, and we plan to bring all those good things back home.”
A veteran attendee of the Annecy Festival for over a decade, del Rosario noted that 2024 has been particularly productive and optimistic. “This year, we formalised at least two deals, one of which will materialise this year and another one next year,” he revealed.
Sharing her experience of the festival, Pacumio exclaimed, “Compared to last year, an impressive number of companies and exhibitors attended MIFA this year, which is a great indication of market growth. We were happy to see multiple people visiting our pavilion to inquire about our services and the incentives our government provides for film productions.”
FDCP offers a selective cash rebate programme to help service companies acquire projects and deals outside the Philippines, as well as an international co-production incentive for qualified Filipino production companies who are co-producing creative content with international partners.
What’s next for the Philippines? Del Rosario announced, “We are soon launching our app-based graphic novels that are currently in soft launch. These comics are created by Filipino-American artists who have been successful in the United States and want to give back to the Philippines. This is a highly promising project, and I am the most excited for this launch.”